Forrest-Hidding battle sparks calls for umpire to rule on stoush

THERE are calls for an independent process for dealing with conflict between MPs, with a potential legal stoush overshadowing the return of State Parliament today.

A bullying allegation by independent MLC Ruth Forrest against Police Minister Rene Hidding has resulted in Mr Hidding accusing Ms Forrest of defamation. The Minister is considering taking legal action against Ms Forrest, arguing she made a link between her bullying allegation against him and violence against women.

Ms Forrest said she would pursue a code-of-conduct complaint against Mr Hidding after she said he bullied her at a parliamentary dinner.

She is also considering reporting the matter to police, and has written to White Ribbon, the national body that seeks to address violence against women.

Premier Will Hodgman’s public response has been limited to the fact that he received advice from the Solicitor­General and the secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

He then formed the view Mr Hidding had not breached the ministerial code of conduct.

University of Tasmania political scientist Richard Eccleston said the affair risked undermining the reputation of political representatives and Parliament itself. “It suggests there needs to be independent process to mediate such disputes in an attempt to resolve them outside the courts,” Prof Eccleston said.

“Given the seriousness of the accusations such a process would have to be robust and impartial.”

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About Ruth Forrest

Ruth was born in Burnie in 1962. She was raised on a farm at Riana and has lived on the North West Coast all her life. She attended Riana Area School, Ulverstone High School and Hellyer College and afterwards worked as a nurse and midwife in Burnie until she was elected to the Legislative Council in the Parliament of Tasmania in 2005. Ruth was re-elected in 2011. Ruth lives in Wynyard and spend a lot of time traveling within her electorate including Circular Head, the West Coast, Wynyard and King Island.